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Sound acquires Pacific County Press
Sound Publishing, Washington State’s largest community newspaper group, has purchased the Pacific County Press, a weekly newspaper based in South Bend. The Press primarily covers the northern portion of Pacific County but coverage extends into the Pe Ell area of Lewis County and the Tokeland, Grayland and Westport areas in Grays Harbor County. It also covers state news that pertains to the area. The paper has published continuously for 23 years. The paper’s former owners, Loretta Hodgson and Chris Petrich, will stay on. “The Pacific County Press is a well-respected local newspaper and we are glad we get the chance to work side-by-side with Chris and Loretta,” said Gloria Fletcher, president of Sound Publishing. “We want to help make the newspaper’s connection to the community and area even stronger, if that is possible.” Sound Publishing owns The Daily World and six other publications that make up the Grays Harbor Newspaper Group. Some aspects of the Pacific County Press’s operation — administration
See Press, Page 3
THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER November 2017
Teleconference Nov. 17 with Pulitzer winner Eli Sanders Page 2
Journal of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association
130th WNPA ANNUAL CONVENTION
Good times roll in Olympia Workshops, BNC awards top festivities
Photo by Philip Watness, Skamania County Pioneer
The 130th annual Convention of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association saw a changing of the guard, and was a celebration of many good works. Above Adam Rudnick picks up a first place General Excellence Award for the Shelton-Mason County Journal from WNPA President Sandy Stokes. At left, outgoing President Don Nelson gets a hug from Stokes, who praised Nelson’s leadership over the last two years.
From its opening reception to the final gavel, the 130th gathering of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association celebrated accomplishments, offered words of wisdom and encouragement, brought toegether old friends and new acquaintances. Keynote Speaker Les DeVaul Zaitz, who traded in his investigative career at the Orgeonian to be publisher of the tiny Malheur Enterprise, challenged the crowd to press for answers, even when resources are few and the challenges great. And Frank DeVaul, long-time publisher in Morton and Chehalis, received the Miles Turnbull Master/Editor Publisher Award. His entire family, children,
See WNPA, Page 2
Free teleconference with Pulitzer winner Eli Sanders is Nov. 17
An encore -never in 28 years of conversation with journalism.” Pulitzer Prize Mike Dillon, winning journalist former publisher at Eli Sanders is set Pacific Publishing for 10 a.m. Friday, Co. and recipient of Nov. 17. The the WNPA’s Miles teleconference is Turnbull Master free and WNPA Editor/Publisher members can regAward, will moderister by emailing ate. Executive DirecTopics for disSanders tor Fred Obee at cussion will include: fredobee@wnpa. Identifying those com. Deadline to register is 5 areas in our communities that warrant a deeper look - city p.m. Nov. 14. Call-in instructions will be government, demographics (who are we?), crime rates, emailed about a half an hour etc; storytelling and time before the program begins. saving techniques for busy Sanders is the Associeditors and reporters; crafting ate Editor of The Stranger, the best possible interview; Seattle’s alternative weekly narrating the story with the newspaper. His powerful, prize-winning narrative about techniques of the best literary non-fiction and earning and a tragic crime in south Seattle elicited this comment from keeping the trust of sources, Ronnie Agnew, a 2012 especially in a small town Pulitzer judge: “I’ve never Time for questions and anread a court story like The swers will be provided during Bravest Woman in Seattlethe session.
Officers: Sandy Stokes, President; Michael Wagar, First Vice President; Donna Etchey, Second Vice President, Don Nelson, Past President. Trustees: Tom Mullen, Patrick Grubb, Colette Weeks, Eric LaFontaine and Scott Hunter. THE WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER is the offical publication of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. It is published monthly by WNPA, PO Box 389, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Staff Fred Obee: Executive Director: 360-344-2938. Email: fredobee@wnpa.com Janay Collins, Member Services Director: 360-344-2938. Email: ads@wnpa.com 2 The Washington Newspaper November 2017
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Surprises delighted attendees at this year’s WNPA convention By Sandy Stokes WNPA President If you missed the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s 130th convention last month you might have felt little envious when your coworkers told you how much fun they had. Stokes Besides the camaraderie we all enjoy in connecting with others who share our craft, the 2017 event came with delightful surprises, starting with a live band and open bar at the Thursday reception and the cool custom WNPA tote bags and notebooks everyone received. And people won’t forget the brooms – comical graphics that popped up on the screen during the awards presentation when a contest entrant made a “clean sweep” winning first, second and third in a category. This time there was no time to fidget or get a numb fanny during the awards presentation. Our Executive Director Fred Obee pared the program down to a cool 90 minutes and made it entertaining and visually stimulating with lots of pictures and page images. Convention Friday was a big day for me. I was installed as WNPA President. It is an honor that humbles me, because there are so many of journalism’s greats in this state – men and women I look up to and still call on for
guidance and inspiration. I have very big shoes to fill – Don Nelson is the publisher extraordinaire who turned over his gavel to me. I will work hard to measure up. Don left the association in very good shape and set me up for success since we have a very strong board filled with people way smarter than I am. First Vice President Michael Wager, publisher of the Nisqually Valley News, Second Vice President Sound Publishing’s Donna Etchy and Sound’s genius digital marketing guru Eric La Fontaine along with Scott Hunter of the Grand Coulee Star are long-time experienced board members. And the newcomers to the board are seasoned, heavy hitters in our industry – Patrick Grubb of the Northern Light in Blaine, Tom Mullen of the Shelton-Mason County Journal and Colette Weeks of the Anacortes American. One of our big goals for the coming year is to enhance the value of membership in our association. Members already benefit with advertising promotions, legal advice and even help with editing stinky stories from experienced colleagues. The return of Mike Dillon, formerly of Pacific Publishing, marks a step in added value. He’s arranged a phone session with Pulitzer winner Eli Sanders of The Stranger on Nov. 17. For inspiration in news reporting and writing, sit in on this 90-minute teleconference. Sanders is an engaging speaker as well
as an accomplished journalist, and Dillon’s editorial educational programs are always valuable and free. After more than 40 years in the business, reporting, editing and finally publishing, I feel like the convention was also special for me because it helped me retire on a high note. La Conner Weekly News, which my business partner Cindy Vest and I brought back from the dead 11 years ago and recently sold to Ken Stern, won 15 awards in the WNPA Better Newspaper Contest. Six of those were first place awards. The most heartwarming moments of the convention for me came when I presented Brianna Loper of the Shelton-Mason County Journal with two of our association’s biggest awards. She took first place as News Writer of the Year and also Photographer of the Year. Her expressions of pure joy demonstrated the importance of our annual contest when young journalists like Brianna as well as old time newspapermen and women are recognized for their hard work. Our reading public seldom realizes how much effort we put into bringing them engaging advertising, important news and amazing photos. We cheer and encourage each other, and is this age of media bashing, we are among friends when we gather for convention. And throughout the rest of the year, we can feel secure that WNPA has our backs.
WNPA: Awards tab online at wnpa.com
Continued from Page 1
spouses and grandchildren, were all together for the very first time to see DeVaul accept the award. He told the crowd that his family was the most important thing in his life, and he reflected on the award’s namesake, Miles Turnbull, who owned the newspaper in Leavenworth and who was executive
director of WNPA after he retired from the newspaper business. The complete list of award winners is contained in the 2017 Better Newspaper Contest tabloid. Hard copies are available by request from the WNPA office and online at wnpa. com.
PRESS: South Bend paper joins Grays Harbor group Continued from Page 1
functions, distribution and production — will now be handled by the Grays Harbor Newspaper Group. With Hodgson and Petrich being freed up from some of the business functions, the net result will be enhanced editorial content and more time for ad sales, said Stan Woody, regional publisher for the group. Hodgson and Petrich said in an announcement of the sale, “We are excited about the sale to Sound Publishing and The Daily World. We look forward to providing our subscribers with a larger variety of local news from Pacific, Grays Harbor and Lewis counties. We would like our readers to know
in Raymond when the two north Pacific County papers merged to become the Willapa Harbor Herald. Asked about returning to where he got his start in newspapers, he said, “The people in Raymond and South Bend have always appreciated, and have shown their loyalty to good journalism. I’m glad to be a part of that continuing legacy with a publication that has a solid reputation for good reporting.” The Pacific County Press publishes in a Stan Woody of Sound Publishing visits with Chris Petrich, at left, and tabloid style format and Loretta Hodgson following the sale of their paper to Sound Publishing. covers a broad spectrum Woody is familiar advertising salesman for of life in Pacific County that we will continue to with the Willapa Harbor the old Raymond Herald – local government, welcome their emails, community. The veteran and the South Bend photos and stories as sports, community news, newspaperman’s first job Harbor Pilot. we have for the past 23 entertainment, opinion in the business was as an He was the publisher years.” and public safety news.
The Grays Harbor Newspaper Group consists of The Daily World, The Vidette in Montesano, The North Coast News in Ocean Shores, The South Beach Bulletin in Westport, The East County News, On the Harbors, Washington Coast Magazine and now The Pacific County Press. Sound Publishing is the largest community media organization in the state, with a combined print circulation of more than 660,000. It employs more than 500 people around the state. Dave Gauger with Gauger Media Service, Inc., a newspaper and magazine brokerage firm in Raymond,Wash. represented the sellers.
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The Washington Newspaper November 2017 3
130th WNPA ANNUAL CONVENTION
Attendees settled in for the lunchtime awards program at Hotel RL in Olympia.
Eric LaFontaine picks up some Federal Way Mirror Community Service awards.
Bill Stokes gets some cookies to go at the opening night reception.
Trish Kinney helps workshop attendees get organized
Donna Etchey accepts awards for the Port Orchard Independent and Bremerton Patriot.
Scott Hunter and wife Sheri take a spin around the dance floor at the opening reception featuring the Del Rey Trio.
Katie Kowalski and Nicholas Johnson take in a workshop.
The Washington Newspaper November 2017 4
130th WNPA ANNUAL CONVENTION
New life members: Jennifer James Wilson, Scott Wilson and Patrick J. Sullivan.
Frank DeVaul speaks after winning Master Editor/Publisher award.
Don Nelson, Les Zaitz and Neal Pattison give advice on covering the big story.
Photo by Philip Watness, Skamania County Pioneer
Brianna Loper from the Shelton-Mason County Journal had a big night, winning both News Writer and Photographer of the year honors.
Tom Mullen leads an advertising flash session.
Photo by Philip Watness
Judy DeVaul blows a kiss to her husband Frank as he talks about how important she has been as a partner in life and business. 5 The Washington Newspaper November 2017
Roger Harnack takes second for Photographer of the year.
Photo by Philip Watness, Skamania County Pioneer
Branden Hansen and Jared Arnold from Chewelah celebrate a first place General Excellence award for the Independent.
WNPA JOB BOARD PAGE DESIGNERS/COPY EDITORS The Peninsula Daily News in Port Angeles, Washington, is seeking page designers/copy editors. Applicants must possess journalism experience at a newspaper in an editing role, with an emphasis on pagination. Applicants need to be able to work calmly, accurately and quickly under daily deadline pressure in a busy newsroom. Knowledge of, and interest in, local news is required, as is excellent news judgment and the ability to write and edit with precision. These are full-time positions and include excellent benefits, paid time-off and a 401(k) with company match. To apply, email your resume and a minimum of three designs samples to: careers@soundpublishing.com. Please include PA PAGE in the subject line.
Entry Level General Workers needed to feed insert hoppers and stack completed products off the inserting equipment. Positions require the ability to lift 45 lbs. repetitively and stand for entire shift. Basic math skills a must. Positions are available on Day shift (7 a.m. to 3 p.m) and Night shift (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) Hourly Wage: $11. If you are interested in joining our team, email your cover letter and resume to: careers@soundpublishing.com and be sure to include ATTN: PRINT in the subject line. OR apply in person at our office, located at 11323 Commando Road W., Main Unit, Everett, WA.
DIGITAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE A Digital Account Executive for the Kent Reporter maximizes advertising sales potential through the development of quality business relationships and promotion PRODUCTION OPENINGS of new and existing advertising Sound Publishing, Inc., Washproducts. This position requires a ington’s largest newspaper pubheavy amount of prospecting and lisher has several full-time job openings at our Printing Facility in lead development with small to mid-sized businesses. Everett, WA. What you will do in this role: Press · Prospect businesses in South We are seeking qualified press King County to obtain advertising operators who have experience revenue; we want people with the printing on single width web presses. Demonstrated experience ability to take full ownership of the sales cycle – contact to close in press make ready, ink setting, · Work with newspaper teams quality checking and basic crew to develop and deliver innovamaintenance a must. Must have a minimum of five years printing tive digital solutions to businesses within the region experience. Hourly Wage: $20· Meet and exceed regional $24 based on experience. sales targets Entry Level General Workers Qualifications: needed to jog/stack product as it · 3-5 years’ experience in digicomes off the press. Must be able tal sales and marketing preferred; to stand for entire shift and lift 50 lbs. repetitively. Basic math skills a proven prior sales success required · Key skills include managemust. Hourly Wage: $12. ment experience; team leadership; Post-Press communication; organization; We are seeking qualified insert ability to build strong relationmachine operators. Positions ships with clients; and provide require mechanical aptitude as exceptional customer service, well as the ability to set-up and including excellent written and run Muller and Goss inserting equipment. Familiarity with Kansa oral proposals · Reliable self-starter with and Barstrom labelers and Muller strong knowledge of businesses in stitching and trimming machines Snohomish County a plus. Position is Mid-shift: Tues · An outstanding worth ethic, – Fri (3 p.m. to 11 p.m.) & Sat (6 with the ability to think quickly on p.m. to 2:30 a.m.) Hourly Wage: your feet $12.50. · Must possess valid driver’s 6 The Washington Newspaper November 2017
license and daily access to a reliable vehicle What we offer you: · Competitive salary plus commissions · Benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, and 401k with employer match · Great work environment with professional sales team The Kent Reporter is part of Sound Publishing, Washington State’s largest independent community news media company. If the above aligns with your skills, abilities, and career path, we’d love to hear from you! Submit your resume and cover letter to: careers@soundpublishing.com. Please be sure to note ATTN: KENTDIGITAL in the subject line! COUNTY REPORTER, KING COUNTY Sound Publishing is seeking a reporter to produce stories about issues impacting all of King County for the 16 titles that the media company operates throughout the county. The right candidate will have experience as a reporter in a highly productive, digital-first environment and possess strong writing, photography, and digital media skills. Primary coverage will include, but not be limited to, county government, sheriff’s office, transit, and environmental policy. Schedule includes occasional evening and weekend work. Candidates must have excellent communication and organizational skills, and be able to work effectively in a deadline-driven environment. Previous newspaper experience is required, as is a proficiency with AP style and the ability to take impactful photos and collect high-quality audio in the field. We offer a competitive hourly wage and benefits package including health insurance, paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays), and 401K with an employer match. Email us your cover letter, resume, and include up to five examples of your best work to: careers@soundpublishing.com, Please remember to include ATTN: COUNTY in the subject line.
Have a legal question? WNPA is ready to help If you have a question about access to public meetings or records, the WNPA staff can help. Call 360-344-2938 For questions beyond government access -- if an attorney has served you with a demand letter, or if Earl Hubbard you need emergency review of a story, letter or ad -- call or email our WNPA attorney, Michele Earl Hubbard. (206) 801-7510 or email
michele@alliedlawgroup.com
Rush to find new federal revenue could include ad tax By Tonda F Rush WASHINGTON—The threat of a federal tax on advertising loomed large in September as the nation awaited the appearance of proposed tax reform legislation from Congress. Groups with a stake in any aspect of the Internal Revenue Code, first passed in 1913 with a deduction for advertising expenses, swarmed Capitol Hill to speak up for their concerns. The Trump administration and most GOP leaders have declared that the U.S. corporate income tax rate of 35 percent is too high. Although many corporations do not actually pay that rate because of exemptions and deductions, economists say the codes drives large companies to purchase foreign subsidiaries and move their headquarters abroad to escape the tax. Fixing the rate is part of the GOP platform. The problem is that lowering the rate to 20 percent, or even to 15 percent as the Trump White House prefers, leaves the U.S. treasury short some $2 trillion. Because federal debt is rapidly moving toward $10 trillion, budget hawks are looking for ways to end some exemptions and deductions as a way to “pay for” the corporate rate slashing. Advertising has been considered an “ordinary and necessary” business expense since the beginning of federal income taxation. Advertisers are permitted to deduct the full amount each year from their income and pay a smaller tax as a result. And that is where the danger for advertising based businesses arises. Former Rep. David Camp, R-MI, proposed in his widely publicized first draft of tax reform that advertising costs should
not be fully deductible. Instead, businesses would be allowed to deduct only 20 percent of each year’s costs and spread the rest over the succeeding five years. His reasoning was the advertising has a shelf life, and its value lasts longer than a year. His proposal never reached the House of Representatives for a vote. But a form of it might soon be back. Advertising industry executives who have met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say a change in the current year expensing of advertising cost is likely to be in the bill that will be drafted by the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT. NNA President Matthew Paxton IV, publisher of the News-Gazette, Lexington, VA, said he was not surprised. That does not mean he is pleased. “We have seen this coming for a long while,” he said. “We are not deceived by the accounting language about amortization, and we don’t care what percentage is disallowed. This is a tax on advertising, pure and simple. We cannot think of a worse way to raise federal revenue.” Paxton issued an alert to all NNA members in September, pointing out that advertising drives local economies. Leading economists with IHS Economics report that a dollar spent on advertising leads to $19 in economic activity. “Many will oppose this idea. For community newspapers, however, I think there is an important point we need to make in editorials. This tax will shrink our local economies. Many of our towns are already struggling. In states that depend upon sales tax
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revenue, less advertising means less spending and lower sales tax collections. Schools, police, civic activities, trash collection—you name it. Everything is going to suffer,” Paxton said. “There is one more point we need to highlight for our
readers. While lowering the top corporate rate is an important goal, taxing Main Street to benefit Wall Street is not going to help our local businesses much. Some may benefit from a lower tax, but if their revenue falls at the same time, none of us
will be better off. Usually a business is going to be more concerned about lost revenue than about taxes, though both are important,” he said. NNA discussed the advertising tax fight at its annual convention Oct. 4-7
in Tulsa, OK. Publishers are be urged to call their representatives in Congress. Tonda Rush is the Public Policy Director for the National Newspaper Association. She can be reached at tonda@nna.org.